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fē´māl: Two Hebrew words are thus translated:
(1) × ×§×‘×”, nekÌ£eÌ„bhaÌ„h, which is merely a physiological description of the sexual characteristic (from × ×§×‘, naÌ„kÌ£abh, “to perforateâ€), and which corresponds to זכר, zaÌ„khaÌ„r, “male†(see under the word).
(2) ×שּה, 'ishshaÌ„h, with the irregular plural × ×©××™×, naÌ„shı̄m (only , in all other places “wife,†“womanâ€), the feminine form of ×יש×, 'ı̄sh, “man.â€
The Greek word is θῆλυς, theÌ„Ìlus, literally, “the nursing one,†“the one giving suck†(from θηλαÌζω, theÌ„laÌzoÌ„, “to suckleâ€).
Israelitic law seems frequently guilty of unjust partiality in favor of the male sex, but we have to consider that most of these legal and religious disabilities of women can be explained from the social conditions prevailing at the time of legislation. They are therefore found also in contemporaneous Gentile religions. Though traces of this prejudice against the weaker sex are found in the New Testament, the religious discrimination between the sexes has practically ceased, as is evident from : “There can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesusâ€; compare also .